Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management, Alderman Grant Twigg, launched the City’s Urban Agriculture programme on Wednesday, 23 June 2021 at the Philippi Fresh Produce Market. The City has boosted this programme with a financial injection of R3 million to develop 30 food gardens in various areas across its 24 subcouncils. Read more below:

This support programme was initiated through the City’s Mayoral Urban Renewal Programme (MURP) to establish sustainable food gardens which will aid in addressing food insecurity in vulnerable areas. A total of 720 farmers are expected to participate in this project.

‘The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many disadvantaged communities struggling with food security. In response to this, the Municipality identified food gardens as an effective and efficient manner to ensure access to healthy foods that contain adequate macro and micronutrients,’ said Alderman Grant Twigg, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management.

Home gardens are also becoming an increasingly important source of food and a mechanism for job creation and skills development for poor households in urban areas.

‘The goal is to assist households to develop home gardens to supply most of the non-staple foods that a family needs every day of the year, including vegetables and fruits, beans, herbs and spices and even animals and fish.

‘The intention is also to assist farmers with the establishment of cooperatives and facilitate the hosting of markets days and informal trading activities where a portion of harvested commodities are made available for supply, sale and distribution to the public,’ said Alderman Twigg.

The project will provide support to new and existing farmers using secured sites such as backyards, schools, open spaces around City buildings, churches, NGOs, clinics, libraries etc.

New farmers will be provided with start-up kits including seeds, fertiliser and equipment. Training on planting, tending and harvesting will be provided with the assistance of the City’s four Area Economic Development (AED) branches within the Urban Management Directorate.

Thirty urban farming supervisors will provide administrative support and assist with the handing out of kits and related functions.

The Subcouncils will be tasked to identify new and existing farmers in consultation with the ward councillors and the AED branches. An assessment of the urban farming initiatives will also be undertaken to determine needs, skills levels, and access to resources to provide the appropriate support programmes.

Source: City Of Cape Town